---
title: "date(byAdding:to:options:)"
framework: foundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "foundation/nscalendar/date(byadding:to:options:)"
---

# date(byAdding:to:options:)

Returns a date representing the absolute time calculated by adding given components to a given date.

## Declaration

```swift
func date(byAdding comps: DateComponents, to date: Date, options opts: NSCalendar.Options = []) -> Date?
```

## Parameters

- `comps`: The components to add to date.
- `date`: The date to which comps are added.
- `opts`: Options for the calculation. See doc://com.apple.foundation/documentation/Foundation/NSCalendar/Options for possible values. If you specify no options, overflow in a unit carries into the higher units (as in typical addition).

## Return Value

Return Value A new NSDate object representing the absolute time calculated by adding to date the calendrical components specified by comps using the options specified by opts. Returns nil if date falls outside the defined range of the receiver or if the computation cannot be performed.

## Discussion

Discussion Some operations can be ambiguous, and the behavior of the computation is calendar-specific, but generally components are added in the order specified. The following example shows how to add 2 months and 3 days to the current date and time using an existing calendar (gregorian): NSDate *currentDate = [NSDate date]; NSDateComponents *comps = [[NSDateComponents alloc] init]; [comps setMonth:2]; [comps setDay:3]; NSDate *date = [gregorian dateByAddingComponents:comps toDate:currentDate options:0]; [comps release]; Note that some computations can take a relatively long time.

## See Also

### Related Documentation

- [components(_:from:to:options:)](foundation/nscalendar/components(_:from:to:options:)-84y5w.md)

### Calculating Dates

- [date(from:)](foundation/nscalendar/date(from:).md)
- [date(byAdding:value:to:options:)](foundation/nscalendar/date(byadding:value:to:options:).md)
- [date(bySettingHour:minute:second:of:options:)](foundation/nscalendar/date(bysettinghour:minute:second:of:options:).md)
- [date(bySettingUnit:value:of:options:)](foundation/nscalendar/date(bysettingunit:value:of:options:).md)
- [date(era:year:month:day:hour:minute:second:nanosecond:)](foundation/nscalendar/date(era:year:month:day:hour:minute:second:nanosecond:).md)
- [date(era:yearForWeekOfYear:weekOfYear:weekday:hour:minute:second:nanosecond:)](foundation/nscalendar/date(era:yearforweekofyear:weekofyear:weekday:hour:minute:second:nanosecond:).md)
- [nextWeekendStart(_:interval:options:after:)](foundation/nscalendar/nextweekendstart(_:interval:options:after:).md)